It has come to the attention of the Salmon River Enhancement Society that a number of large floodplain islands in the Fraser River at Mission to Laidlaw are now under ecosystem threat for development for intensive agriculture. These include Herrling, Carey and Strawberry islands, former TFL43 cottonwood plantations for pulp production. These un-diked floodplain areas constitute exceptional fish rearing habitat during the freshet period including interior and coastal juvenile Chinook salmon, the latter of which is utilized by Southern Resident Killer Whales. Harrison Rapids sockeye are also known to rear on top of the islands during freshet flooding. In addition, the perimeters include some of the most productive salmon (chum and pink) and white sturgeon spawning habitats in western North America.

Many people refer to this area as the Heart of the Fraser due to its extraordinary ecosystem value to British Columbia.

The Salmon River Enhancement Society has long been a steward of salmon and trout habitats in the Township of Langley but also has taken a broader British Columbia approach as evidenced from our actions as intervenors on the Trans Mountain Expansion Project.

We view this damage to the Fraser River on these islands as concerning and egregiously damaging. In this context we support the recent letter submitted by the BC Wildlife Federation and signed by a number of conservation coalition luminaries from British Columbia including Rick Hansen, Mark Angelo, Brian Riddell, Robert Alcock and Tony Allard.

SRES agrees with BC Wildlife Federation that it is vitally important for you to protect these critical habitats through acquisition and long-term management.